How to Make a DIY Coat Hook for Your Home

Measure and Mark the Cross Beam

Using a tape measure and speed square, measure and mark a 20-inch length of board to serve as the coat rack's crossbeam. Make a very light pencil mark, to minimize the amount of sanding needed.

Cut the Cross Beam

With the power miter saw, cut the cross beam to 20 inches long. For the smoothest cuts, use a new fine-tooth blade in your miter saw.

Measure, Mark, and Cut the Hooks

From the remaining piece of board, measure and mark three 1 1/2 x 3 1/3-inch hooks. Cut these to size, using a power miter saw.

Notch the Hooks

The wooden hooks will have 45-degree wedges cut off one corner, creating an authentic Frank Lloyd Wright eave design. To cut off these wedges, stack the three hooks on the miter saw, set the saw blade to a 45-degree angle, and cut them all at once.

Small workpieces can have a tendency to kick back; you can prevent this by blocking the material in place with pieces of scrap 2x4 clamped to your saw fence. (The size of the wedges can be varied if you want a different look.)

Cut Ornamental Blocks

From the remaining piece of board, cut two 2 x 2-inch blocks. These will be used for purely decorative purposes to enhance the Arts and Crafts style of the project.

Sand the Pieces

With the electric sander and fine-grit sandpaper (or by hand), lightly sand all of the wood pieces. Lightly round off the edges and corners, but don't round off too much wood, as Frank Lloyd Wright designs are dependent on precise edges and corners.

Clean the Pieces

It is important to clean the wood before applying the wood finish. Wood dust and other debris embedded in the wood finish can ruin the texture. Sawdust embedded in polyurethane is especially damaging; re-sanding is the only way to fix this problem.

Wiping down the wood with tack cloth is the preferred method. Beeswax impregnated in the cloth grabs the dust and removes it. Keep the pressure very gentle—if you press too hard, you risk forcing the wax into the wood. Be sure to frequently refold the cloth so that you are using a clean section.

Position the Hooks

The three hooks will be attached to the crossbeam with the beveled corners facing up and toward the wall. Each hook will rise about 1/2 inch above the crossbeam, creating a protrusion on which coats and scarves can be hung.

The outside hooks should be positioned inward 1/2 inch from the ends of the crossbeam, with the third hook positioned precisely in the center of the crossbeam.

Use a speed square to position the hooks perpendicular to the edge of the crossbeam, then use C-clamps to hold them in position while attaching them.

Attach the Hooks

Turn the rack over, so that the back is facing you. Drill countersunk pilot holes, then attach the hooks to the cross beam, using two 1 1/2-inch brass screws per hook. Pilot holes are essential to prevent the wood from splitting, but make sure not to drill all the way through the hooks.

Drill Holes for Mounting Screws

For ultimate stability, the coat rack needs to be screwed directly into wall studs. Because walls studs are typically spaced 16 inches (on-center) from each other, drill two pilot holes in the coat rack 16 inches apart.

Position the Ornamental Blocks

Spread a small amount of glue to the backs of the decorative blocks, then glue them in place, centering them between the middle hook and the outside hooks. The top edges of the blocks should be flush with the top edge of the cross beam. Since they will not be carrying any weight, no nails or screws are needed.

Clamp the Ornamental Blocks

Clamp the squares in place. Leave the coat rack for at least two hours until the glue fully dries.

Apply Finish

Danish oil gives hardwood a lustrous, rich, natural look. Wearing latex gloves, apply the oil to the coat hook with rags, thoroughly rubbing it into the wood. Leave the coat hook in a dry, well-ventilated place for at least two hours for the oil to ​fully sink in.

If desired, apply a coat of water- or oil-based polyurethane varnish which will seal the wood and eliminate the need for reapplication of Danish oil. (Left unvarnished, the coat hook will need a fresh coating of oil once or twice a year.) Allow the polyurethane to dry and cure for one to two days.

Hang the Coat Hook

Use a stud finder to locate wall studs and mark points at roughly eye level or slightly higher on the wall. Screw the coat rack into the wall studs, using two 2 1/2-inch brass screws through into the pilot holes and into the wall. Use a level to make sure the coat hook is level.